I GOTTA LOSE THE AIR PUMPS! HOW?! Plus my awesome mini DWC :)

[Airwalker16]

Nice to see my waterfalls in RDWC idea catching on. I never needed a chiller once I started running waterfalls.

I was using them before you!!!!
Ttystick is a serious proponent of not using a chiller. You can do so if you want, but if you just want to mix your nutes and run, I'd use one. Beneficial bacteria and other additives like orca, hydroguard, or pool shock is just more shit to worry about.

Chillers are fuckin sweet. Your roots will thank you. Even in soil, deep down under the ground, it's niiiiiiice n cool.

 

[DrKiz]

Also, don't skimp on a chiller. A nice 1/10-1/4HP is all you'll need. But use one.

The pump is your place to choose what you'd like. Submersible inside the water, or in line, plumbed outside and in front of the reservoir tote via a small 3/4-1" bulkhead.
Chiller will probably work less if you keep the pump outside the water.

Was definitely going with 2” abs as you suggest.

None of the white sch40?

Chiller. Figured I’d invest in one just to eliminate problems.

Thanks bro!

 

[ttystikk]

Upside of chiller; less chance of root rot. If the system is designed correctly, it won't be hospitable to rot anyway.

Downside of chiller; slower metabolism, excess unnecessary cost and maintenance.

Up to you.

I was using them before you!!!!

I started using them over 6 years ago, maybe longer.

 

[Airwalker16]

Was definitely going with 2” abs as you suggest.

None of the white sch40?

Chiller. Figured I’d invest in one just to eliminate problems.

Thanks bro!

You can use the white sch 40. But I justbl think black looks world's cleaner and bonds better to the ABS bulkheads.

 

[Airwalker16]

But one thing I r ecco mend is that by our buy THREADED Bulkheads. Its either inlet or outlet but almost sure it's inlet X slip and then use 2" male adapters to glue onto the ends of your pipes so you can just Teflon and thread the bulkhead and pipe together. Much easier to take apart rather than a complete removal of the bulkhead.

 

[ttystikk]

But one thing I r ecco mend is that by our buy THREADED Bulkheads. Its either inlet or outlet but almost sure it's inlet X slip and then use 2" male adapters to glue onto the ends of your pipes so you can just Teflon and thread the bulkhead and pipe together. Much easier to take apart rather than a complete removal of the bulkhead.

Because water pressure is very low at only inches of head pressure, I found that barbed ends on my bulkhead fittings were completely sufficient and allowed me to simply slip on flexible tubing. I used 1" fittings and hose. Disassembly and reconfiguration is trivial and can be accomplished in minutes, no tools required.

 

[Airwalker16]

Because water pressure is very low at only inches of head pressure, I found that barbed ends on my bulkhead fittings were completely sufficient and allowed me to simply slip on flexible tubing. I used 1" fittings and hose. Disassembly and reconfiguration is trivial and can be accomplished in minutes, no tools required.

2" is a must.

 

[ttystikk]

2" is a must.

Nah. That's why I ran 4 outlets from each tuffbox. It's still cheaper.

 

[Airwalker16]

Nah. That's why I ran 4 outlets from each tuffbox. It's still cheaper.

1" is just too easy to get clogged by roots.

 

[myke]

With all that water volume moving around I would assume roots would find there way into the drains.Or am I missing something?

 

[Axion42]

They do, which is why Airwalker suggests using 2" bulkheads so return lines don't get blocked.

 

[myke]

They do, which is why Airwalker suggests using 2" bulkheads so return lines don't get blocked.

So you just let them grow and it’s not a problem?

 

[ttystikk]

1" is just too easy to get clogged by roots.

That's why I used 4 outlets.

Y'all are crying far too much about the ten second chore of reaching into the tub and pulling the roots out of the drains. This also happens with 2" drains.

Size isn't the answer, redundancy and maintenance is.

 

[Axion42]

So you just let them grow and it’s not a problem?

I run a 6 site rdwc system with 3 inch abs return lines. I havent had any problems, vegged for 6 weeks and on day 60 from flip of flower now.

 

[5BY5LEC]

That's why I used 4 outlets.

Y'all are crying far too much about the ten second chore of reaching into the tub and pulling the roots out of the drains. This also happens with 2" drains.

Size isn't the answer, redundancy and maintenance is.

Until you reach in and the roots break off in the return lines.

 

[Airwalker16]

I run a 6 site rdwc system with 3 inch abs return lines. I havent had uany problems, vegged for 6 weeks and on day 60 from flip of flower now.

I have had roots go all the way to the res, even with 2". But @5BY5LEC posts a great point.

 

[ttystikk]

Until you reach in and the roots break off in the return lines.

Ten seconds once a week. Really not that big a deal!

 

[diggs99]

Great thread everyone, so much valuable info in here. Ive been going back and forth on what i want to try next, Ebb and flow ,DWC and Aeroponics are what interest me most. I already built an aero cloner, loved it, works great. Not sure what it would be like growing full plants in that system tho. Still im interested. I always planned to go Ebb and flow and run tables once i start growing larger numbers, but for now, it might be more fun to try all the other ways first lol.

This thread has swayed me towards the DWC side tho for now, @Airwalker16 @Axion42 and @ttystikk , love your setups

Im Gonna build a 4 site setup for now, grow 4 monsters over the winter and see how i like the DWC. I will attempt to do it without A chiller ala ttystikk , using waterfalls in the totes/buckets.

4 totes in a straight line with res at the end, will this be fine?

Any tips,advice, or maybe things you would change about your setup before i start planning to build mine?

 

[Airwalker16]

Great thread everyone, so much valuable info in here. Ive been going back and forth on what i want to try next, Ebb and flow ,DWC and Aeroponics are what interest me most. I already built an aero cloner, loved it, works great. Not sure what it would be like growing full plants in that system tho. Still im interested. I always planned to go Ebb and flow and run tables once i start growing larger numbers, but for now, it might be more fun to try all the other ways first lol.

This thread has swayed me towards the DWC side tho for now, @Airwalker16 @Axion42 and @ttystikk , love your setups

Im Gonna build a 4 site setup for now, grow 4 monsters over the winter and see how i like the DWC. I will attempt to do it without A chiller ala ttystikk , using waterfalls in the totes/buckets.

4 totes in a straight line with res at the end, will this be fine?

Any tips,advice, or maybe things you would change about your setup before i start planning to build mine?

Yes, 4 in a row with a return line at the bottom middle straight through em all back to a res would work. 8 Bulkheads. Definitely use 3".
I guess your 3/4" lone for the waterfall will have to either come out from the res and over to the totes or straight out from the res to the totes, over around the corner of that first tote and then down the line. Latter just for a cleaner look. Split from 3/4 using threaded t's and use male adapters to s res on each piece for easier taking apart for cleaning. On the thread facing the totes, use the fittings I posted earlier. The black 1/2" male thread X 1/2" barb so you can go with apiece of black 1/2" vinyl tubing, to a barbed 1/2" elbow through a 1/2" grommet in the wall near the top. You've seen the pics I'm sure.

 

[diggs99]

Yes, 4 in a row with a return line at the bottom middle straight through em all back to a res would work. 8. Bulkheads. Definitely use 3".

awesome, thanks
where did you buy your bulkheads?

so are we still using 2"abs as return lines still? or are you suggesting upping it to 3"?